Simple, Not Easy

Posted on Sep 21

Parkinson's Disease - incurable, chronic, and progressive. The "What Ifs" can be a lot to worry about - body failure, job loss, financial ruin, vivorce, dying in a nursing home. Looking like one of those people in the neurologist's waiting room, dementia, taking medications forever, DBS, becoming a burden to family. being unloved and unloveable.

ODAT. One Day At a Time. It's simple but not by any means easy. Not a buzz phrase but a way of life that has made a difference for incalculable numbers of people. It is reflected in the Sermon on the Mount "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself" and words attributed to the Buddha "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." ODAT.

When an individual is first diagnosed, it is natural to be
overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation.
Fear is understandable. Most people
with Parkinson's attempt to regain their footing by seeking information and
there is a great deal out there. More
than any single person could reasonably absorb and make sense of. Much of the information is anything but rosy
and there is a sense that the days ahead can only be described as dire. It is just overwhelming.

ODAT. Anxiety is a
given when anyone looks through the jumble of the days ahead and forgets that
everything in this day can be managed.
All of the immediate concerns of any day can be managed. Assess what is happening at this moment and
rise to meet it.

Mark Twain noted "I
am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never
happened." The future is inherently
indeterminate in spite of our best efforts.
It stretches before all of us with as much threat as promise. Jobs security is tenuous and supervisors can
be capricious. Retirement funds can
tumble in value more rapidly than they grow and home equity is not a stable
entity. Our children make life decisions that cause us to lie awake at
night. Our bodies age and organ systems
falter. It is impossible for anyone to
stop the aging process and ultimately we all die. These fears apply as surely
for individuals with Parkinson's as they
do for every human being presently above ground, drawing breath. It is easy to forget this when your
neurologist says you have Parkinson's Disease.

At the moment you feel most powerless, most out of control,
it is incumbent upon you to take charge of the only thing over which you truly
have domain: how you respond to the moment.

ODAT. Deal directly
with symptoms today. Compared with
yesterday, your disease is not noticeably worse. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to
you. Do something that gives you
pleasure. Do anything but fret about
where Parkinson's disease will take you when you extend your outlook one day
forward.

Not easy advice for anyone to follow but ultimately this is
the only way to manage all challenges life presents to us.

Comments

What help can you provide for caregiver burnout? We are both 50 yo and healthy, but I'm reaching a desperate point that I cannot handle seeing my partner getting worse and me feeling lonelier. We've been together 20 years. Thank you.

Posted by JL,
almost 5 years ago

There is no simple answer to the problem of caregiver burnout. Loved ones are the forgotten patients, the men and women who do not benefit directly from any known Parkinson's treatment.

The single best thing you can do for yourself is to talk with other Parkinson's partners. If you cannot find a support group in your area, use the contact number on this website for help in forming a group of people who have the "I love someone with PD" form of the disease.

A therapist who understands PD can also be very helpful. The effects of PD on families is the core component of all the work I do. The loneliness you describe is the reason I originally began my blog (archived on this site). I promise I will continue to write more in future blogs.

Posted by Dr. Paul,
almost 5 years ago

I have been working with Parkinson's Patients now for several years and it has increased in the last 6 months. I guess improvements spread quickly. Anyway I love the ODAT. I am going to implement that to the patients at The Specific Chiropractic Center with all conditions but for sure my PD patients. Thanks for the great blog.

Posted by Dr Larry Callaway,
almost 5 years ago

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NOTE: Dr. Paul Short is neither an agent nor employee of ADPA or any of its affiliate organizations. The views expressed in this blog are the opinions of Dr. Short and do not represent the opinions or endorsement of APDA. The information contained on this site is for your general information only and is not intended as, or a substitution for, medical advice. You should also be aware that the information on this site may not reflect the most current medical developments, nor is it provided in the course of a physician - patient relationship. You should always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider or expert with any questions or concerns you may have regarding a health or medical condition. You should never disregard professional medical advice, or delay in seeking it, because of something you have read on this site.